Sam Houston Race Park weekend wrap up

Another exciting weekend of racing at Sam Houston Race Park concluded on Sunday. In an unusual occurrence, each of the eight races on the card was won by a different trainer and jockey combination.

The second race, a maiden special weight going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf with a purse of $35,000, was won by Spoiler, who was trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Stewart Elliot. Spoiler settled behind the pace, took command in the stretch, and pulled away for the win.

The fifth race was also over a mile and a sixteenth on the turf and carried a hefty purse of $36,000. Triple L’s Cutter rallied from off the pace to take the winner’s share of this purse for trainer Jayde Gelner and jockey Sahin Civaci.

The last of Sunday’s big purse races was the seventh, a six-furlong sprint on the turf. Proud Valentine was able to gain the front and outlast the others for the win. Weston Hamilton was the winning rider, and Matt Hebert trained.

On Saturday, multiple riders found the winner’s circle twice. Civaci, Floyd Wethey, and Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez all recorded two victories.

No fewer than seven races on Saturday carried purses of at least $35,000.

The fourth was won by Lady Got Moves, who proved too much for the field in a five-furlong sprint for maiden fillies and mares four years old and up on the turf. Bret Calhoun was the winning trainer and Jose Alvarez was aboard.

Weston Hamilton rode Champagne Stopper to victory in the sixth race, proving the best amongst allowance company over six furlongs on the dirt. Eric Schneider was the trainer.

In race eight, Stelliot’s Legacy posted her second win of the meet. Gerardo Mora kept the filly just off the pace until taking over in the late stretch, just as Carlos Padilla would have instructed him.

Shacked Stateside took the second maiden special weight race of the day for trainer Karl Broberg and jockey Sahin Civaci in the ninth. After setting the early pace, the filly dug in and hung on for the win.

Saturday’s finale, an allowance optional claimer over a mile and a sixteenth on the turf, was won by Stellaczar with Civaci again in the saddle. Mindy Willis was the victorious trainer.

The weekend’s racing began Friday with another five races hitting the $35,000 purse threshold.

Village Way was the first winner of the weekend, taking an allowance optional claimer sprinting five furlongs on the dirt. The Texas-bred colt featured the potent Asmussn – Elliot combo.

In a five-furlong maiden special weight sprint on the turf, King of Song took the fourth. Candy Courtemache and Rudolfo Guerra combined for that win.

Maiden three-year-old fillies contested the sixth race over seven furlongs on the dirt. Wish It battled for the early lead and outlasted all others to secure another win for Elliot and Asmussen.

Texas-bred older fillies and mares took the stage in the eighth race. Lexington Diva was able to break her maiden for jockey Valdez-Jiminez and trainer Cesar Govea.

Race 10 saw four-year-old horses battle over a mile and a sixteenth on the turf with Chrome Baby pulling away from the pack after stalking the pace. Brett Calhoun added to his training win total, with Jose Alvarez picking up the winning ride.

Racing at Sam Houston will resume next Friday with another action-packed weekend. First race post time will be one o’clock with a nine-race card.

Checking in on our horses to watch

Friday – Race 3 – Silver Wings – Outdueled Salado to pick up the win.

Saturday – Race 8 – Stelliot’s Legacy – Picked up her second win of the meet.

Sunday – Race 2 – Spoiler – Also a winner giving us a perfect three for three.